Locking mechanism for transfer-cranes.



G. F. STEEDMAN.

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR TRANSFER CRANES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22. 1012.

1,053,667; Patented Feb. 18,1913.

GEORGE F. STEEDMAN, OF ST; LOUIS, MISSOURI.

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR TBANSFEBFCEANTES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

Application filed November 22, 1912. Serial No. 732,865.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE F. STEEDMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Looking Mechanism for Transfer-Cranes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to transfer cranes, and particularly to the means used for locking a transfer crane in alinement with the trolley tracks that branch off from the crane runways on which the crane travels.

One object of my invention is to provide mechanism of simple construction for securely and automatically looking a crane in alinement with one or more branch trolley runways and for preventing the trolley on the crane from being run ofi' the crane or connecting trolley tracks unless the crane is securely locked in perfect alinement with a branch trolley runway.

Another object is to provide mechanism for the purpose described which comprises trolley sto s that normal] prevent the trolley from eing run ofi t e bridge-beam or cross-beam of the crane or off of a connecting runway but which are rendered inoperative automatically whenever the crane is locked to a cooperating or alining trolley runway.

Another object is to provide an overhead track system for transfer cranes which is so designed that a trolley cannot be run off the crane accidentally or run 011' the ends of the trolley tracks that terminate at the tracks in which the crane travels. And still another object is to provide a combined trolley stop and locking mechanism for trans fer cranes which is so designed that the trolley stop at one end of the crane remains operative and thus prevents accidental movement of the trolley off this end of the crane when the trolley stop at the opposite end of the crane is inoperative or in such a position that the trolley can be run off the crane onto the branch trolley track to which the crane is locked.

Other objects and desirable features of my invention will hereinafter p inted out.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an overhead track system comprising a pair of parallel crane runways on which a transfer crane travels, and a plurality of trolley tracks that branch laterall from the crane runways so as to permit t e trolley on the crane to be run to various points in the building in which the system is installed; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the transfer crane that travels on the parallel crane runways and which is equipped with a combined trolley stop and crane-locking mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the locking device on one end of the transfer crane in o erative position so as to lock the crane in aiinement with one of the branch trolley tracks, the trolley stop device being in an ino erativc osition; Fig. 4 is a similar view s owing t e crane-locking device in its inoperatlve position and the trolley stop in its operative position so as to prevent the trolley on the crane from running 011' the crane accidentally; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 showing the crane-locking device set in operative osition ready to engage one of the branch trolley runways when the crane comes into alinement with same, the trolley stop device being in its operative position so as to prevent the trolley from running off the crane until the crane is locked.

Referring to the drawings which lllllS- trate the preferred form of my invention, A designates a pair of parallel runways on which a transfer crane travels, and B and C designate trolley tracks that branch ofl at right angles from the crane runways A so as to permit the trolley D that is mounted on the bridge-beam or cross-beam E of the crane to be run to various oints in the building. The bridge-beam of the crane is arranged in the same horizontal plane as the trolley runways B and .C, and said beams and runways are preferably I-shape in cross section although this is not essential so long as said members are rovided with flanges or other suitable portions that serve as tracks for the trolley D of the Means is provided for locking the transfer crane in alinement with either of the branch trolley runways B and C and for preventing the trolley D from running oil cross-beam E of the crane when the crane.

is unlocked, and inoperative only when the crane is locked so that the trolley D can pass from the crane onto the particular trolley runway to which the crane is locked.

Means under control of an operator is provided for rendering the crane-locking mechanism operative and inoperative-,- and trolley -y one I e trolley. The locking of its plungers in position to receive' plungers lion the earings 3 located on the upper side "of the oss-beam or bridge-beam E .of the} crane -.-djacent the opposite ends of same, and each of said devices is provided with rack teeth 4 .that cooperate with a'pinion 5 Ion the upper end of a vertically disposed shaft 6 which is journaled in bearings 7";on the vertical web of the cross-beam Ef'of the crane, the trolley stop or target that cooperates with the plunger 1.b eing connected to the shaft 6 so that said target will lie arallel with the vertical web of the crosseam E in an opening insaid webj-fwhen the shaft 6 is in a certain position and extend parallel to the web of the crossbeam E when the shaft 6 is in a different position and thus preventthe trolley D from running 011? the beam E accidentally. Y

The manually-operated mechanism for rendering the. crane-locking devices 1 operative and inoperative consists of an, os'cillating lever 8- mountedon the cross-beam E of the crane adjacent the center thereof and provided with arms 9, as shown in Fig. 2, that are connected by means of links 10 to arms 11 on rock shafts 12 that are journaled in hearings on the upper side of the crossbeam E of the crane, each of the rock shafts 12 being provided with a radially projecting arm 13, as shown in Fig. 2, that is arranged inside of a yoke 14 on the locking plunger 1 with which that partlcular rock shaft cooperates. Operating chains or cables 15 and 15 are connected to the opposite ends of the oscillating lever 8, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to permit said lever to be actuated conveniently from a point below the crane. A coiled contractile spring 16 is also connected to each of the locking plun' stops are also provided on the branch 1. ijunways B and C so as prevent the trolley .hrom running ofi of said runways acc'ide'nlly when the transfer crane is not-locked ansfer crane are arranged horizontally ingers 1 and to a stationary part of the'crane for a purpose hereinafter described.

The trolley stops on the branch runways B and C. are of similar construction to the trolley stops on the transfer crane, and each consists of a target 17 arranged in a slot in the vertical web of the runway, as shown in Fig. 2, and connected to a vert-icallydisposed shaft 18 provided at its upper end with a pinion 19 that meshes with rack teeth 20 on a reciprocating bar 21 which is arranged in a socket formed in a member 22 located adjacent the end of the runway, said member 22 being so arranged that the locking plunger on the ad jacent end of the crane can enter the socket formed in the member 22 when the crossbeam E of the crane is in alinement with said runway and thus securely lock the crane in position to permit the trolley D on the crane to pass onto the runway. The reciprocating bar 21 that actuates the target 17 is so proportioned and arranged that when -the locking plunger 1 on the crane moves into the socket formed in the member 22 on the runway said bar 21 will be moved lon-' gitudina'lly and thus cause the target 17 to be turned 90 into an inoperative position or a position extending parallel to the web of the trolley runway, as shown in broken lines in Fig.3. When said locking plungerl is retracted or moved into an inoperative position .a spring 23, which is connected at one end to the member 22 and at its 0p )osit end to an upwardly projecting arm 1 on the bar 21, will move said bar in the opposite direction and thus cause the target 17 to be restored to its normal position or a position extending transversely of the trol ley runway, as shown in Fig. 4. If desired,-

a stop 24 may be arranged on the trolley runway, as shown in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive,-

so as to limit the movement of the reciprocating bar 21 in one direction and thus cause the target 17 to lie absolutely parallel to the vertical web of the runway when said target is inoperative.

When the crane is traveling longitudinally of the tracks A the locking plungers 1 are retracted or in an inoperative position, and the trolley stops 2 on the crane and the trolley stops 17 on the branch trolleyrunways "TB and C are operative or arranged in such a position that the trolley D" on the crane'can- *not'move accidentally ofi the crane or a trolley on either of the runways B or I C cannot move accidentally ofi the same; As the crane approaches the particular trolley runway at which it is desired to stop the crane so as to enable the trolley D on the'crane to be moved onto said runway the operator pulls downwardly on the chain 15 connectedto the lever 8 so as to move the plunger-controlling arms 13 that are arranged inside of the yokes 14 on the plungers 1 into an upconnecte right or vertical position, as shownin Fig.- 2, and thus permit the springs 16 on the ,crane to move the plungers 1 outwardly, or set said plungers in operative position, as shown in Fig. 5, the'racks .4 on the plungers 1 being of suflicient length to turn the trolley stops or targets 2 180 and thus cause said stops to still remain operative or in such a position that the trolley D cannot move oil of the beam E of the crane. When the crane reaches the trolley runway at which it is desired to stop the crane the end of the locking plunger 1. on the crane strikes against a cam surface or inclined surface 25 on the member 22 on said trolley runway which is so shaped that said plunger will be moved inwardly against the tension of the spring 16 that acts on same while the 'crane is moving into ahnement with the trolley runway, the plunger 1 springing into the socket formed in the member 22 on the trolley runway as soon as the crane comes into alinement with same and thus securely locking the crane in position. When the plunger 1 springs into the socket in the member 22 said plunger strikes the reciprocating bar 21 and moves said bar inwardly far enough to. turn the stop 17 on the'trolley runway into an inoperative osition, as shown in Fig. 3, owing to the f aict that the spring 16 is stronger than the sprin 23, said bar 21 limiting the movement 0 the plunger 1 and preventing said plunger from moving far enough to cause its cooperating trolley stop 2 to assume a transverse position or operative position.

The members 22 on the trolley runways B and .C are each provided with a pair of oppositely-inclined cam surfaces 25 so as to cause the plungers 1 to beretracted when the crane approaches from either direction. If the trolley runway B onto which it is desired to move the trolley D is in perfect alinement with the 'trolley runway C that branches laterally in the opposite direction from the crane tracks A'- the locking plungers 1 at both ends of the crane will, of course,cooperate with the runways B and C so as to lock both ends of the crane. If the trolley runways B and C are not in alinement, however, the crane will be locked only at one end but the trolley stop 2 at the opposite end of the crane will remain in operative position, so as to prevent thetrolle from running accidentally of? the end 0 the bridge-beam E of the crane which does not aline with the trolley runway, this, of course, being due to the fact that the trolley stops or targets on the crane remain in operative position until the-locking plungers 1 project into the sockv ets provided for same in the branch trolley runways B and C. To release the crane the operator ulls downwardly on the chain 15" d to the lever 8' so as to cause the arms 13 to move inwardly toward the center of the crane and also downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 4, said arms engaging the yokes 14 on the locking devices and thus causing said locking devices to be retracted.

From the foregomg'it will be seen that with a crane-locking'mechanism of the character described the operator can set the looking devicesin operative position when the crane is approaching a point where it-is desired to stop it,'andwhen it reaches said point the locking-devices will operate automatically and thus [securely lock the crane in such a position that the cross-beam thereof lines up with the branch track onto which it is desired to run the trolley. It is impossible for the trolley -to move off the crane while the crane is traveling, either before or after the locking devices have been set in operative position owing to the fact that the trolley stops on the crane remain operative or extend transversely of the cross-beam of the crane until the locking devices spring into. the notches provided for same in the branch trolley track. Furthermore, the trolley cannot accidentally run off the end of the crane which is not in, alinement with a .branch' trolley track when the opposite end of the crane is interlocked with a branch trolley track; and still another desirable feature of such a mechanism is that all of the branch trolley runways or tracks are provided with trolleystops that are normally operative and which are rendered inoperat1ve only after the crane has been locked to the trolleyrunway onto which it is desired to move the trolley on the cranb.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. A transfer crane provided with a manually positioned locking device that is adapted to automatically lock the cranes to a branch trolley runway, and means for pre-' venting the trolley on the crane from being 'run 011' the crane unless the crane is locked to one of the trolley runways with which it cooperates, said means being rendered inoperative automatically when said locking device operates to lock the crane to a branch trolley runway.,

2. A transfer crane provided with a lock ing mechanism, stops that prevent the trol-' ley on the crane from being moved off the crane, manually-controlled means for setting said locking mechanism so that it will into alinement with a branch trolley runway, and means whereby the movement of said locking mechanism causes said stops to move into an inoperative osition so that the trolley can be meved 0 said branch runway.

3. A transfer crane provided with a device that automatica'lly'locks the crane to a branch trolley runway when the crane moves 120. automatically lock the crane when it moves the crane onto into alinementwith said I'HIIW ay, and means on the crane controlled by said locking device for preventing the trolley from being run off the crane unless the crane is locked- 4. A transfer crane provided with a spring-actuated device for locking the crane to a trolley runway that branches or from the tracks on whichthe crane travels, means under control of the operator for setting said device in such a position that it will act automatically to. lock the crane, a trolley stop on said crane, and mechanism cooperating with said stop and locking device for causing the trolley stop to remain operative after the locking device has been set in position to act and to move into an inoperative position when said locking device operates automatically to lock the crane to the branch trolley runway with which it cooperates.

5. A transfer crane provided with a look ing device that is adapted to lock the crane in alinement with a branch trolley runway, a trolley stop on said crane that is normally operative, manually-controlled means for renderlng said locking device operative so that it will act automatically to lock the.

crane when it moves into alinement with a branch trolley runway, and mechanism cooperating with said trolley stop and locking device for causing the trolley stop to remain operative after the locking device has been rendered operative and to remain in this position until after the crane has become locked to a branch trolley runway, said mechanism being so designed that the movement of said locking device into locking position effects the movement of said stop into an inoperative position.

6. A transfer crane provided with a looking device that is normally inoperative but which is adapted to lock the crane in alinement with a branch trolley runway, a trolleyv stop on said crane that is normally operative, manually-controlled means for governing said locking device, and mechanism cooperating with said trolley stop and locking device for causing the trolley stop to remain operative. after the locking device has been rendered operative and to remain in this position until after the crane has become locked to a branch trolley runway,- said mechanism being so constructed that the trolley stop moves automatically into an in- I operative position after the crane has been position acts to locked.

7. A transfer crane provided with a looking device for locking the crane in such a that the trolley thereon can be moved onto a branch trolley runway, a trolley stop on said crane operatively connected to said locking device in such a manner that it is moved from an operative into an inoperative position when said locking device lock the crane to a branch runway, a

trolley stop on the branch runway that is normally operative, and means actuated by said locking device for rendering the trolley stop on the branch runway inoperative.

8. A transfer crane provided with a locking device for locking the crane in such a position that the trolley thereon can be moved onto a branch trolley runway, a trolley, stop on said crane operatively connected to said locking device in such manner that said stop will be operative when the crane is not locked, and manually-operated means on the crane for setting the locking device in position to act wlthout rendering said stop inoperative.

9. A transfer crane provided with a locking device for locking the crane in such a position that the trolley thereon can be moved onto a branch trolley runway, a trolley stop on said crane operatively connected to said locking device, manually-operated means on the crane for governing the position of said locking device, and means whereby said trolley stop is rendered inoperative automatically when the locking device engages the part with which it cotiperates to lock the crane in alinement with the branch trolley runway.

10. A transfer crane provided with a looking device for locking the crane in such a position that the trolley thereon can be moved onto a branch trolley runway, a trolley stop on said crane operatively connected to said locking device, manually-operated means on the crane for governing the position of said locking device, and means whereby said trolley stop is rendered inoperative automatically when the crane becomes locked and is rendered operative automatically when said locking device is actuated to release the crane.

11.. A transfer crane provided with a ing device for holding the crane in aline ment with a branch trolley runway, a trolley stop on said crane provided with a pinion that meshes with a rack on said locking device, and means for moving said locking device into and out of operative position.

12. A transfer crane provided with a locking device for holding the crane in alinement with a branch trolley runway, a trolley stop on said crane provided. with a pinion that meshes with a rack on said locking, device, yielding means which tends to move said locking device into operative position, and manually-operated means for moving said locking device into an inoperative position.

13. A transfer crane provided with a bridge-beam or cross-beam on which a trolcrane for locking the crane in alinement wit? a branch trolley runway, an oscillating trolley stop on said crane arranged insu'ch a manner thatit is operative when the crane is not locked, and means whereby the final movement of said locking device into locking position causes said stop to move automatically into an inoperative posit-ion.

14. A transfer crane provided with a bridge-beam on which a trolley travels, a reciprocating locking device arranged in a bearing on one end of the crane, a shaft journaled in said bridge-beam and provided with a pinion that meshes with a rack on said locking device, a target or stop on said shaft, a spring which tends to move said locking device into an operative position, and a manually-controlled rock arm on the crane that is adapted to move said locking device into an inoperative position.

15. A transfer crane provided with a bridge-beam or cross-beam on which a trol ley is mounted, a reciprocating locking device arranged horizontally adjacent one end of said beam, a vertically disposed shaft on said beam provided with a pinion that meshes with a rack on said locking device, a target on said shaft that normally extends transversely of the beam but which is adapted to be moved into an inoperative position parallel to the beam, a manually-controlled rock arm on the beam arranged inside of a yoke on said locking device for moving said device in one direction, and a spring for moving said locking device in the opposite direction.

16. An overhead track system comprising a pair of parallel crane tracks, a crane on' said tracks provided with a trolley, trolley runways branching laterally from said crane tracks, trolley stops on said crane and on said trolley runways for preventing the trolley from running off the crane accidentally when the crane is not in alinement with the trolley runways and from running oil the trolley runways accidentally when the cra.ne is not in pos tion to receive the trolley, a locking device for lockin the crane in operative position with re ation to said runways, manually-controlled means for settin said locking device in such a position t at it will act automatically to lock the crane, and means for transferring movement from said locking device to said stops.

17. An overhead track system comprising a pair of parallel crane tracks, trolley runways branching laterally from said crane tracks, a transfer crane mounted on said parallel tracks and rovided with a trolley, trolley stops on sai crane and on said trolley runways for preventin the trolley from running off the crane accidentally when the crane is not in alinement with the trolley runways and from running off the trolley runways accidentally when the crane is not in position to receive-the trolley,jlocking devices on the crane for locking the crane in alinement with any branch trolley runway of the system, and means for causing the trolley' stops on the crane and 011 the trolley runway to which the crane is locked to become inoperative automatically when the crane becomes locked to the selected trolley' runway.

18. An overhead track system comprising tracks for a transfer crane and trolley tracks branching laterally from said crane tracks, a crane on the crane tracks provided with a trolley, trolley stops on said branch trolley runways, a locking device on said crane, means whereby the movement of said locking device renders both sets of trolley stops operative and inoperative.

19. An overhead track system comprising tracks for a transfer crane and trolley tracks branching laterally from said crane tracks, a crane on the crane tracks provided with a trolle trolley stops on said trolley runways, an a'spring-.actuated locking device on the crane that'is adapted to cause the trolley stop of a selected trolley runway to become inoperative when the crane becomes locked to said runway.

20. In-an overhead track system, a traveling crane provided with a trolley, branch trolley runways past which said crane travels, a locking device on the crane for holding it in alinement with a selected trolley runway, trolley stops on said runways, yielding means for normally holding 'said stops in' an operative position, manuallycontrolled means on the crane for rendering said locking device operative, and operating devices for the trolley stops on the branch runways which are adapted to be actuated by the locking device on the crane so 'as to rendersaid trolley stops inoperative.

21. In anoverhead track system, a traveling crane provided with a trolley, branch trolley runways or tracks past which said crane travels, spring-actuated locking devices arranged adjacent the op osite ends of said'crane, manuall -operate means on said crane for rendering said locking devices inoperative, trolley stops: on said crane operatively connected to said lockingfide' vices in such a manner that'they remain operative when the locking devices are inoperative and also after said locking devices have been set in operative position, and means on said branch trolley runwa s that are adapted to cooperate with the 10C!- ing devices on the crane for locking the crane in alinement with a selected runway and for causing the trolley sto on the crane that is arranged adjacent the locked end of the crane to become inoperative after the crane has been locked.

22. In an overhead track system, a traveling crane provided with a trolley, branch trolley runways or tracks past which said crane travels, spring-actuated locking devices arranged adjacent the opposite ends of said crane, manually-operated means on said crane for rendering said locking devices inoperative, trolley stops on said crane operatively connected to said locking devices in 'such a manner that they remain operative when the locking devices are inoperative and also after said locking devices have been set in operative position, means on said branch trolley runways that are adapted to cooperate with the locking devices on the crane for locking the crane in alinement with a selected runway and for causing the trolley stop on the crane that is arranged adjacent the locked end of the crane to become inoperative after the crane has been locked, trolley. stops on the branch runways that are normally operative, and means'cont-rolled by the locking devices on the crane forrendering the trolley stops on the branch runways inoperative.

23. A transfer crane carrying a trolley track'member, trolley tracks abutting adjacent the ends of the trolley track member on the crane, spring-pressed plungers at the ends of the trolley track memberon the crane, an operating mechanism for causing said plungers to be operative or inoperative at will of the operator, sockets adjacent the ends of' the abutting trolley tracks designed to receive the said plungers when the trolley track member on the crane is in operative alinement with one of the abut-ting troll'ey tracks, and trolley stops adjacent the ends of the trolley track member on the crane actuated by, the said plungers.

24. A transfer crane carrying a trolley track member, trolley tracks abutting adjacent the ends of the trolley track member on the crane, spring-pressed plungers at the ends of the trolley track member on the crane, an operating mechanism for causing said plungers to be operative or inoperative at will of the operator, sockets adj acent the ends of the abutting trolley tracks designed to receive the said plungers when the trolley track member on the crane is in operative alinement with one of the abutting trolley tracks, and trolley stops adjacent the ends of the trolley track member on the crane actuated by the said plungers, each of said trolley stops being operative at all times except when its actuating plunger is inserted in the cooperating socket on an abut-ting trolley track.

25. A transfer crane carrying a trolley track member, trolley tracks abutting adjacent the ends of the trolley track member on the crane, sprin -pressed plun ers at the ends of the troll y track mem r on the crane, an operating mechanism for causing said plungers to be operative or inoperative at will of the operator, sockets adjacent the ends of the abutting trolley tracks, trolley stops adjacent the ends of the trolley track member on the crane actuated by the said plungers, trolley stops adjacent the ends of the abutting trolley tracks, and separate and distinct spring-pressed plungers in said sockets for actuating the trolley stops adj acent the end of the abutting trolley tracks.

26. A transfer crane carrying a trolley track member, trolley tracks abutting adjacent the ends of the trolley track member on the crane, spring-pressed plungers at the ends of the trolley track member on the crane, anoperating mechanism for causing said plungers to be operative or inoperative at will of the operator, sockets adjacent the ends of the abutting trolley tracks, trolley stops adjacent the ends of the trolley track member on the crane actuated by the said plungers, trolley stops adjacent the ends of the abutting trolley tracks, and separate and distinct spring-pressed plungers in said sockets for actuating the trolley stops adjacent the end of the abutting trolley tracks, the trolley stops on the abutting trolley tracks being operative at all times except when a locking plunger on the crane is inserted in the particular socket with which the last-mentioned trolley stop cotiperates.

27. An automatic crane and trolley stop for a transfer crane comprising a springpressed plunger designed as a crane stop, said plunger being adapted to actuate a trolley stop in such a manner that the trolley stop is operative when the plunger is at the far-in and far-out positions of its travel, and inoperative only when the plunger is in approximately the medial position of its axial travel.

28. An automatic crane and trolley stop for a transfer crane and an abutting trolley track consisting of a spring-pressed plunger on the crane which is adapted to actuate a trolley stop adjacent the end of the crane trolley track, a socket on the abutting trolley track arranged to receive said spring plunger when the crane and abutting trolley track are in operative alinement, and a spring-pressed member operating in said socket for actuating a trolley stop adjacent the end of said abutting track.

29. An automatic crane and trolley stop for a transfer crane and an abutting trolley track consisting of a spring-pressed plunger on the crane which is adapted to actuate a trolley stop adjacent the end of the crane trolley track, a socket on the abutting trolley track arranged to receive said spring plunger when the crane and abutting trolley track are in operative alinement, and a spring-pressed member operating in said socket for actuating a trolley stop adjacent signature in the presence of two witnesses, thenend of said abutting track, bloth of said this 16th day of November 1912. tro ey stops ein 0 erative at a 1 times except when the sgrir ig-pressed plunger on GEORGE STEEDMAN' 5 the crane is inserted in the socket on the Witnesses:

abutting track. R. E. WINKLER,

In'testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my LEON S. BUCKLEB. 

